A guy died in northeast Melbourne when he fell from a hot-air balloon.
On Monday, about 7:30 a.m., there was a reference to a man’s body on Preston’s Albert Street in an emergency call.
Law enforcement conducted interviews with balloon riders and witnesses as part of their accident investigation. The route between Wood Street and Murray was closed in both directions, and drivers were asked to stay off of it.
The dead body raised no suspicions of nefarious play. The coroner will receive a police report.
The police reported that the balloon landed safely in Yarra Bend Park. According to media reports, several passengers received therapy.
Albert Street is a suburban development with several houses. On 3AW radio, Today Show contributor Izabella Staskowski described the image as a “really confronting, shocking scene in Preston this morning.”
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Following their call for BalloonMan’s input, the Australian Ballooning Federation and the National Commercial Hot Air Ballooning Industry issued a statement.
The groups extended their condolences to the man’s family.
According to the press release, “hot air balloon baskets are designed with safety in mind, specifically to prevent passengers from falling out or from any accidental exit.”
“This tragedy has understandably left the passengers and the pilot traumatized, and the operator is providing psychological support and counseling for everyone affected.”
After the hot air balloon lifted off from CT Barling Reserve, Reservoir, the man fell at 7 a.m.
WorkSafe Victoria, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and the Air Transport Safety Bureau are also conducting investigations.
A hot air balloon carrying 13 people and the pilot had to land between two buildings in Elwood, southeast Melbourne, on its first flight in April 2022.
Three other people received minor injuries.
The balloon violently collapsed into a field in Lilydale, east of Melbourne, on New Year’s Eve 2021, dragging its basket thirty yards and wounding two additional people.
Victorian hot air balloons caught fire on Boxing Day 2018 due to gasoline leaks. Some of the 15 individuals inside cut their hands when the basket hit trees.
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